Encircling band tightener



June 25, 1935. A. J.. SCHOLTES ENCIRCLING BAND TIGHTENER Filed Nov. 12, 1934 (lttornegsi Patented June 25, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ENCIRCLING am Home]:

\ Albert J.- Scholtes, Baltimore, Md.

\ 15 Claims.

The present invention relates to clamps for hose and the like, and has for an object to provide an improved and simplified construction of lockingwlamp wherein the band has a loop at one side and a loop expansion strip for feeding into the loop to enlarge it and contract the band, and wherein the expansion strip may be of any desired and practical length and fed to the interior of the loop wholly from the exterior of the band.

Another object is to provide a construction wherein the expansion strip may be rolled into the loop, and wherein means is provided for obtaining a double effect in enlarging the loop by the winding or rolling of the strip to secure quick acting clamping operation of the band and of the binding and anchoring of the free end of the band. j

A further object is to provide the clamp with a loop plate which may be relatively short or small so that the clamp as a whole may be made rela. tively small and applied to small diameter hoses, pipes and the like.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the frictional contact of the rolling strip to a minimum so that it will reduce tension on the band and other part and wilhadmit operation of the clamp with relatively small effort, and to provide. a clamp wherein both the band and the rolling strip may be of any practical length and easily and quickly applied to the work from any convenient side thereof.

A further object of this invention is to pro-, vide a clamp with a band and a rolling strip which, during the clamping action, are drawn lengthwise in their respective directions of clamping and rolling to effectively lock the parts rigidly against backward movement and reduce the effort required in applying the clamp- With the foregoing. and other objects in view, the "invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

.In the drawing, wherein like'symbols refer to I like or corresponding parts throughout the Application November 12, 1934, Serial No. 752,715 l Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of e the tightener plate employed.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the winding strip, showing a modified construction for attaching the strip to the winding member. v

Figure 6 is a like view showing a further modification in the attaching means'for the strip by the winding member.

Figure '7 is a detail perspective view of a modifled form of winding member.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view or the loop and 01' the object encircling band, showing a slight modification maintaining the loop,

and

Figure 9 is a fra mentary sectional view through a modified form oi. the band tightener.

Referring now to the drawing, the band tightener comprises a plate 10 or similar member for accomplishing the purposes 1|! this invention.

, Figure 4 shows a detail ew of this plate and it will be noted that it is provided with a single opening il extending generally lengthwise oi the plate and the plate has at one end or the opening ii a shoulder I! which may be constructed in any suitable manner such as by striking out 9. lug II or the like from the opening ii and turning the lug outwardly of the plate so as to be disposed at the outer side of the tightener. I

This lug ll has its outer corner edge rounded as at M to provide a rounded and smooth surface over which one end oi! a band, later de.-. scribed, may be drawn tight. It will also be noted that the outer edge portion of the lug I3 is rounded or arhed upwardly as at {5 for the purpose of holding the band in a substantially rounded or cup-shape as will appear later. The lug i3- is also provided intermediate its ends with an outwardly pressed rivet l6 which may be used 1 or securing the adjacent end of the band thereto. The plate I0 is provided at the other end of the opening II with a slightly upturned and transversely rounded lip I! over which may be engaged the opposite end portion of the band for holding the latter against sliding movement.

The band tightener is provided with an object against the outer side of the band to securelyattach the band to the lug. The band extends from the rivet l6 upwardly over the outer face of the lug i3, over the rounded or curved edge ll of the lug, and also over the top or outer edge "ll of the lug, the latter bulging or bowing the band transversely outward to impart a substantially cup-shape to the band to hold the lateral edge portions thereof taut and from flaring.

The end of the band which extends from the outer edge of the lug i3 forms a loop between the lug andthe plate and this loop is of desired size so as to accommodate therein and against the lug |3 a suitable expanding device as hereinafter brought out. The band I8 is adapted to be placed about an object to which the tightening device is to be clamped. The free end I! of the band is threaded through the opening H of the plate from the inner to the outer side thereof, and the band is drawn through the opening into substantialLy tight position on the object and may then be bent over the lip to any desired extent so' that the lip, incident to its raised and transversely curved structure may frictlonally engage vwith the band and effectively hold it from drawing through the opening ll of the plate.

The loop 20 of the band is so disposed that the end of the band which extends into the loop 20 lies adjacent to the end I! of the band so that as the loop 2|] is enlarged and drawn outwardly from the plate the movement is in the general direction of drawing the end ll taut and thus the formation and enlargement of the loop maintains and locks the free end I! of the band effectively to the plate.

The means for expanding the loop 23 may be a winding strip 2| which is disposed wholly without the band It and is introduced at one end beneath the plate I against the outer side of the secured end of the band l3, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and this strip 2| extends along the outer surface of the band and into the loop "and lies against the inner side of the loop and against the inner side of the lug l3. A transverse winding member 22, which may bea cotter key or pin, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and3, is disposed transversely in the loop 20 and is engaged with the end of the winding strip 2|. By turning the cotter key 22 the end of the strip 2| is wound about the shank of the cotter key and also wound upon itself into successive layers which gradually expand or increase the size of the expanding device so that the expanding device works against the inner side of the loop 20 at one side of the axis of the key 22 and also works against the inner side of the lug ii at the opposite side of the axis of the key 22. As the lug or shoulder i3, or l2, isstationary, and as the loop 20 is expansible, the piling up of the successive layers of the strip 2| on the winding device or roll effects a double quick action on the expansion of the loop 22 as the axis of the winding device is gradually shifted from the shoulder l2 to. enlarge the loop, end additionally the loop is enlarged by the successive layers of the strip 2| as they are brought bee tween the axis of the, pin and the inner side of the loop 20.

It is apparent that the winding strip 2| may'be of any length within practical limits as the latter lies outside of the band l8, and further the strip 2| has no frictional contact with the object clamped and is so located that the frictional contact of the strip 2| with the band I! and loop 20 is such as to insure the tension of the parts when drawn taut and also insures the relatively easy roll,

operation of the winding of the strip withthe least resistance.

From Figure 3, it will be noted that as the winding device feeds the strip 2| into the loop 20, the latter is enlarged by drawing successive portions of the band outwardly through the opening II of the plate, and these successive portions of the band I! are drawn and held tight against the free end I! of the band ill at a point opposite the lip l1 so as to bind the band to the lip by the pressure of the loop 20. It will be noted from Figure 3 that the lip I1 is upturned at a suitable angle to present a substantial surface portion of the end IQ of the band against the base part of the loop 23.

It may be here noted that the transverse curvature of the edge It on the outer end of the lug l3 holds the roll or winding device within the loop 20 and maintains the same from edgewise or lateral displacement in either direction therefrom. Referring now to the modification shown in- Flgure 5, the winding device 23 is shown in the form of a one-piece shank or pin having an apertured head 24 on its end by means of which the shank 23 may be turned. The shank 23 is provided in its side with an outwardly extending. lug or stud 25. The winding strip 26, similar to the strip 2| above described, may be provided with an aperture 21 near its free end adapted to receive therein the stud or projection 25 for anchoring the strip 26 to the shank 23 when the strip is rolled thereon.

In Figure 6, there is shown another slight modincation wherein the cotter-key 28 may receive the strip 23 between the arms thereof and one of the arms of the cotter key is provided with a stud or projection 29 adapted to fit in the opening 21 of the winding strip. In this instance the stud 2! and the opening 21 co-act to hold the cotter key 23 from sliding lengthwise out of the From the drawing it will be noted that the plate I. may be longitudinally rounded or be given an arcuate shape'to morereadily conform to the obiects to which the band tightener may be ap i In use, the band l8 may be wrappedabout an object from any convenient side thereof and the free end I! of the band threaded through the opening ll of the plate and bent. back over the tongue I1.

The end I! is drawn'initially taut.

The winding device 22 is now turned in such direction as to draw thewinding strip 2| inwardly between the plate l0 and the outer side of the band It, the strip 2| being wound in successiv'e layers upon the pin and upon itself to gradually enlarge or expand the loop 20 and contract the band It. As the loop is enlarged sufliciently to begin the tightening and clamping action the loop is brought against the overturned end of the band which rests on the lip l1 and thus the bandis firmly held from slipping on the object. The

winding device 22 may be turned up to any deend of the plate and also lies in frictional contact throughout a substantial portion of the loop 20. I

The shoulder l2 also, binds against oneside of the roll so as to further hold the latter frictionally against retrograde turning movement.

It will be noted that the clamp can only be removed by breakage or destruction of the band l8 because the winding stripZl cannot be unwound or drawn out of the loop.

It will be noted that thelateral portions 30 of the plate, lying at opposite sides of the opening H, are forced into close sealing engagement with the object, as shown in Figure 3, in register vwith the slight gap 3| which may appear between the meeting ends of the band l8 beneath the lip l1. Thus the side portion 30 efl'ectually seal the band tightener on the object at this point of juncture of the ends of the band.

During the winding action of the strip 25 the roll is enlarged and advanced in the direction lengthwise of the plate II! from the shoulder 62 and consequently eifects a substantially longitudinal drawing action on the band through the opening ll of the plate and quickly moves the loop 20 into contact with the end IQ of the band to hold the latter from slipping during subsequent binding action. This movement also imparts a double feed action for the loop 20 as the roll is advanced against the shoulder I2 at the same rate as the roll is advanced against the outer side 01' the loop 20.

The winding or rolling element or member may be of the form shown in Figure 7 wherein the shank 32 with its head- 33 may be of the construction of a cotter pin to receive the portion of the winding strip, and wherein the free ends of the shank 32 are curved or bent outwardly from each other to provide flaring lips 34 which serve as guides to engage and direct the edge portion of the winding strip into the slot between the shank sections. Further, these lips 34 also serve as shoulders to prevent the shank 32 from being withdrawn from the roll when the latter is formed in the winding member, and has the same effect as the projections 25 and 29 with their strip openings 21 shown in Figures and 6. The projection 25 has the additional function of holding the winding strip from lengthwise turning on the shank 23.

In Figure 8, the object encircling band which may be substituted in any of the forms of the band tightener shown in the drawing, has a widened loop portion 36 presenting shoulders 37 at opposite ends adapted to engage the outer face of the plate ID at the side portions 30 to hold the loop from withdrawal through the plate particularly when the parts are assembled and during the preliminary tightening of the device.

As one of the various modifications which may be resorted to in carrying out the features oi the present invention, Figure 9 shows the object encircling band 38 as having the loop portion 356 of Figure 8 therein and in position through the opening H of the plate In, the free end 01; the loop portion 36 being riveted at 39 directly against the underside of the plate Ill. The other end of the band 38 has a winding strip portion 40 associated therewith and, as shown in the present instance, may comprise an extension or elongation of the band 38 which passes out through the opening ll of the plate into the loop 36 and is engaged through the split key or winding element 32, the extremity being carried from the key 32 backwardly out of the loop 36 through the opening ii and from beneath the plate) as shown.' The winding element 32 may be turned in either direction for winding or rolling in double thickness the returned strip end 40 of the band The forming of thereon and within the loop 36. the roll on the element 32 binds the roll against the lug l3 and also binds the roll against the band 38 where it passes over the lip l1.

What is claimed is 1. A band tightener, comprising a plate having an opening therein, a band extending through the opening with one end secured to the plate and looped outwardly therefrom to form a loop at the outer side of the plate, the other end of the band adapted to encircle an object, and expanding means including a winding strip disposed in the looped portion of the band with the free end of the strip extending through the opening in the plate between the latter and the outer side of the band.

2. A band tightener, comprising a plate with an opening therethrough, an object encircling band having both ends extending through the opening in the plate and with one end looped outwardly from the plate and against the other end of the band to bind the latter to the plate and with the first, end secured to the plate at the end of the loop, and expanding means in the loop and including a winding strip passing through the opening between the plate and the outer side of the band.

3. A band tightener, comprising a band, a plate having an opening therein and a lug struckup from one end of the opening, one end of said band secured to said lug and looped therefrom through the opening and adapted at its free end to encircle an object to be clamped, the free extremity of the band adapted to be returned through said opening and turned over on said plate, a rolling member disposed transversely through the looped portion of the band, and a rolling strip extending at one end through the opening in the plate between the latter and the outer side of the band and into said loop portion of the band and connected to said rolling memher, wherebyturning of the rolling member winds the strip thereon and against said 100p portion of the band and the fixed lug of the plate to expand the loop portion by direct pressure of the rolled strip thereagainst and against the fixed lug.

4. A band tightener, comprising a plate having a single opening therethrough and a lug struck outwardly at one end of the opening to provide a shoulder on the plate, a band having one end attached to the lug and looped outwardly therefrom and extending. through the opening to provide a loop at the outer side of the plate, the

free end portion of the band adapted to encircle an object and for adjustable attachment to the plate and expanding means in the loop including a rolling strip adapted to be wound upon itself 7 for impinging the shoulder of the plate at one' side of the expanding means and for engaging the loop of the band at the opposite side of the expanding means to effect a double expansion action on the loop and the quick contraction of the band on the object.

5. A band tightener, comprising a plate having an opening therein, a band secured at one end to the plate near one end of the opening and looped outwardly from the plate and extending inwardly through the opening, said band adapted for passage about an object to be clamped and with its other end passing outwardly through the opening in the plate against the outer side of the looped portion of theband, an expanding strip having one end extending through the plate opening between the plate and the outer side of the band and into said looped portion of the band, and feeding means engaging the strip to force the same thorugh the opening into the looped portion to expand the same and contract the band on the object and bind the looped portion against the said other end of the band to anchor the same to the plate.

6. A band tightener, comprising a plate having an opening therethrough, an object encircling band having its ends extending through the plate at one end of the opening, one end of the band being looped backwardly and attached to the plate near the other end of the opening, a winding device disposed transversely in the loop of the band, and a winding strip having one end lying between the plate and the outer side of said end of the band and extending against and with the latter into said loop and engaging the winding device,-thereby to facilitate the winding of the strip upon itself and to expand the loop with a retaining movement against the other end of'the band in the plate opening.

opening and into the loop, and winding means for winding the end of the strip upon itself within the loop to expand the same and contract the band on the object, said winding means being operable in a direction to feed the strip into the loop against and in the direction of movement of the adjacent end portion of the band, thereby to facilitate operation of the winding means.

8. A band tightener, comprising a band, a plate having an opening therein and a shoulder at one end of the opening, said band being anchored at one end to the plate adjacent the shoulder and being looped therefrom through the opening of the plate'and disposed about an object to beclamped and having its other and turned over through the opening in the plate, a loop expanding strip having one end introduced through the opening of the plate into the looped portion of the band between the band and the plate, and expanding means cooperating with the strip for feeding the strip into the looped portion of the band against the latter and against the said shoulder of the plate.

9. A band tightener, comprising a plate with an opening therethrough, an object encircling band having one end extending outwardly through the opening in the plate to form a loop at the outer side of the plate and secured to the latter at the end of the loop and the other end of the band adapted for adjustable engagement with the plate, and expanding means in the loop and including a strip extending inwardly through the opening between the plate and the outer side of the band.

10. A band tightener, comprising a plate with an opening therethrough, a band having one end looped through the opening of the plate and secured thereto at the end of the loop, and expanding means in said loop to enlarge the same and contract the band, and including a strip with its free end extending from within the loop at the outer side of the band.

11. A band tightener, comprising a plate having an opening therethrough providing flat side portions at opposite sides of the opening, an ob' Ject encircling band having one end looped upwardly through said opening, and secured to the plate at the end of the loop, the band having its other end extendingugupwardly through the opening against the first end of the band, and winding means disposed in the loop of the band at the upper side of the plate for enlarging the loop and contracting the band on the object, said loop adapted to bind against said opposite end of the band to hold the same to the plate, said portions of the plate at the opposite sides of the opening therein adapted toseal andbind against the object across the gap between the meeting ends of theband in the opening;

12. A band tightener, comprising a plate with an opening therethrough, an object encircling band'having one end looped through the opening of the plate and secured thereto-at the end of the loop, a winding strip portion associated with one end of the band and adapted at one portion to enter the loop and having its free end disposed exte'riorly of the band, and means for rolling the said winding strip portion into an expanding roll within the loop, thereby to enlarge the loop and contract the band on an object. i

13. A band tightener, comprising a plate with an opening therethrough, an object encircling band having one end looped through the opening of the plate and secured thereto at the end of the loop and having its free end projecting through the opening in the plate and intothe loop, a winding means within the loop and ad- Justably connected to said free end for winding the band upon itself to form an expanding roll within the loop for tightening theband.

14. A band tightener, comprising a plate with an opening therethrough, an object encircling band having a portion looped through and sejecting through the-opening in the plate and into the loop, a winding means within the loop and adiustably connected to said free end for winding the band upon itself to form an expanding-roll for tightening the band.

15. A band tightener comprising a plate with an opening therethrough and a lug struck up from one end of the opening, an object ,encircling band having, a portion looped through the plate and having one end secured to the plate and its free end adapted to encircle an object and to extend through the opening in the plate within the loop, a winding means disposed transversely through the looped portion of the band and adjustably secured to'said free end of the band,'wherebyituming.'of the winding means winds the band upon itself into an expanding roll and against said loop forcing one side of the loop against the lug of the plate and frictionally locking said winding means from retrograde turning movement when the band has been tightened about an object.

ALBERT J. SCHOLTES. 

